boom
gb/bˈum/ us/bˈum/
A2
English
~ 7400
fellendülés, konjunktúra, dörrenés, robaj, fellendül, virágzik, bumm, bum, vitorlarúd, gém, kameragém, mikrofonrúd, sorompó, dübörög, dörög, reklámoz, beharangoz, népszerűsít, úszó terelőgát, olajfogó gát
NOUN
B1
1
fellendülés
B2
konjunktúra
C1
Usage pattern:
a boom in [something]
The country enjoyed a technology boom in the early 2000s.
Az ország a 2000-es évek elején technológiai fellendülést élt meg.
After the war, there was a boom in car ownership.
A háború után jelentősen fellendült az autótulajdonlás.
Tourism is experiencing a real boom in this region.
The housing boom pushed prices to record highs.
Many new restaurants opened during the city’s economic boom.
Learner examples
The city is in a boom because many new jobs are coming.
A város fellendülőben van, mert sok új munkahely jön létre.
There was a big boom in online shopping last year.
Tavaly nagy fellendülés volt az online vásárlásban.
After the new train line opened, there was a boom in visitors.
The company grew fast during the tech boom.
People made a lot of money in the boom.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “boom” with “bump” or “bomb.” “Boom” in this sense is positive growth, not something negative. Also, learners may say *“a boom of tourism”*; the more natural phrase is *“a boom in tourism.”*
Meaning
period of rapid economic growth
Collocations
economic boom
|housing boom
|baby boom
|boom in demand
|boom period
|boom years
Synonyms
upswing (More general word for improvement, not always as strong or fast as a boom.)
Antonyms
recession (Refers to a period of economic decline, the opposite of a boom in economic contexts.)
Themes
economy
|business
|society
|finance
Definition
A time when business or an activity grows very fast and does very well.
A period during which an economy, market, or activity experiences rapid growth and high levels of success.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a boom from [something]
There was a loud boom and the windows shook.
Hatalmas dörrenés hallatszott, és beleremegtek az ablakok.
We heard the boom of thunder in the distance.
Hallottuk a távoli mennydörgés robaját.
A dull boom came from the direction of the old factory.
The fireworks went off with a sharp boom.
The boom of the drum echoed through the hall.
Learner examples
We heard a big boom outside the house.
Nagy dörrenést hallottunk odakint.
The door hit the wall with a boom.
Az ajtó dörrenve csapódott a falnak.
After the flash of light, there was a boom.
I woke up when I heard a boom in the night.
Suddenly, a boom came from the street.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only “explosion” as a noun and forget they can use “boom” to describe the sound itself. Also, they may write *“hear a explode”* instead of *“hear a boom”* or *“hear an explosion.”*
Meaning
sudden loud deep sound
Collocations
a loud boom
|a sudden boom
|with a boom
|the boom of thunder
|the boom of a gun
|a distant boom
Synonyms
bang (Common everyday word; often higher-pitched or sharper, while “boom” suggests deeper, heavier sound.)
Antonyms
silence (The absence of sound, which contrasts with a loud boom.)
Themes
sound
|daily_life
|nature
|weather
Definition
A sudden very loud and deep noise, like from a big hit or explosion.
A sudden, loud, deep sound, especially one made by an explosion, thunder, or something heavy hitting a surface.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] is booming
Online food delivery services are booming in major cities.
A nagyvárosokban virágzik az online ételkiszállítás.
The local tech scene is booming thanks to new investment.
Az új befektetéseknek köszönhetően virágzik a helyi technológiai szektor.
Her small shop is booming after going viral on social media.
The construction industry is booming again this year.
Tourism is booming as travel restrictions are lifted.
Learner examples
His business is booming right now.
A vállalkozása most virágzik.
Online sales are booming this month.
Ebben a hónapban szárnyalnak az online eladások.
The city is booming because many people move there.
The coffee shop started to boom after the good reviews.
The game company boomed after it released a hit game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“boom up”* or *“boom quickly”*; the usual pattern is simply *“is booming”* without an extra adverb or particle. They may also incorrectly use it for people (*“He is booming”*) instead of their business or career.
Meaning
to grow or prosper quickly
Collocations
business is booming
|tourism is booming
|the industry is booming
|booming economy
|booming market
|booming sector
Synonyms
flourish (Slightly more formal; suggests healthy growth, not always as fast or dramatic as “boom.”)
Antonyms
decline (Describes a process of going down in success or size, the opposite of booming growth.)
Themes
economy
|business
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become very busy, big, or successful in a short time.
To grow or develop very quickly and successfully, especially for a business, industry, place, or activity.
B2
INFORMAL
4
bumm
A2
I hit “send” and boom, the email went to the whole company.
Megnyomtam a „Küldés” gombot, és bumm, az e-mail elment az egész cégnek.
One wrong word and boom, the argument started again.
Egyetlen rossz szó, és bumm, máris újrakezdődött a vita.
You add the final piece and boom, the puzzle is finished.
She clicked the button and boom, the screen went black.
I refreshed the page and boom, the tickets were sold out.
Learner examples
I pressed the key and boom, the game started.
Megnyomtam a billentyűt, és bumm, elindult a játék.
He said one bad thing and boom, she was angry.
Mondott valami rosszat, és bumm, a lány mérges lett.
We opened the door and boom, loud music hit us.
I tried the code and boom, it worked.
We turned the corner and boom, there was the sea.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse “boom” in formal writing, where it sounds too casual. It should be kept for speech, texting, or informal writing.
Meaning
exclamation for sudden impact
Collocations
and boom, [result]
|then boom, [something happened]
|boom, done
|boom, there it is
Synonyms
bam (Very similar informal exclamation; often sounds slightly more playful or comic.)
Antonyms
oops (Exclamation for a mistake, contrasting with “boom” used for success or big impact.)
Themes
conversation
|emotion
|slang
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A short sound word you say to show something big, sudden, or impressive just happened.
An exclamation that imitates the sound of an explosion or is used to emphasize that something has happened suddenly, completely, or impressively.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
bum
C2
vitorlarúd
B2
Usage pattern:
the boom of [a sailboat]
She ducked quickly as the boom swung across the deck.
Gyorsan lehajolt, amikor a bum átlendült a fedélzet fölött.
The wind caught the sail and slammed the boom to one side.
A szél belekapott a vitorlába, és oldalra csapta a bumot.
He tightened the line that holds the boom in place.
A loose boom can be very dangerous for people on board.
They lowered the boom before coming into the harbor.
Learner examples
Be careful, the boom can hit your head.
Vigyázz, a bum fejbe vághat.
The wind moved the sail and the boom swung.
A szél megmozdította a vitorlát, és a bum átlendült.
He fixed the boom at the bottom of the sail.
We pulled a rope to move the boom.
They took down the sail and then the boom.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this “boom” with the loud sound. In sailing contexts, “boom” refers to the pole, not a noise.
Meaning
horizontal pole on a sailboat
Collocations
the boom swings
|hit by the boom
|boom of the mainsail
|duck under the boom
|attach the boom
|boom vang
Synonyms
sail spar (More general technical term for any pole supporting a sail; less specific than “boom.”)
Antonyms
mast (Another main pole on a sailboat but vertical, contrasting with the horizontal boom.)
Themes
transport
|sports
|technology
|travel
|transportation
Definition
A long bar at the bottom of a boat’s sail that helps control the sail.
A long horizontal spar attached to the bottom of a sail, used on a boat to hold and control the sail.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
6
Usage pattern:
a boom for [equipment]
The boom microphone dipped into the top of the shot.
A gémmikrofon belógott a kép felső részébe.
He adjusted the boom so the mic was just out of frame.
Úgy állította be a mikrofonrudat, hogy a mikrofon éppen a képen kívül maradjon.
The boom operator stood quietly above the actors.
They used a camera boom to get a smooth overhead shot.
She mounted the light on a boom arm over the desk.
Learner examples
The sound man holds the mic on a boom.
A hangtechnikus egy gémen tartja a mikrofont.
They use a boom so the camera can move smoothly.
Kameragémet használnak, hogy a kamera simán mozoghasson.
The microphone hangs from a long boom.
He moved the boom closer to the singer.
A boom lets the mic stay near the actor’s mouth.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “boom mic” is two separate ideas; it is a fixed term for a microphone on a boom, not a mic that makes a booming sound.
Meaning
support arm for mic or camera
Collocations
boom microphone
|camera boom
|on the boom
|hold the boom
|boom operator
|boom arm
Synonyms
boom arm (A more specific compound term; used especially for stands and mounts.)
Antonyms
handheld (Describes equipment held directly in the hand instead of mounted on a boom.)
Themes
media
|technology
|work
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A long bar that holds a microphone or camera in the right place.
A long arm or pole used to hold and position a microphone, camera, or similar equipment, often so it can reach over people or objects.
NOUN
B2
7
sorompó
A2
Usage pattern:
a boom at [a gate/crossing]
We waited while the boom at the level crossing lifted.
Vártunk, amíg a vasúti átjárónál felemelkedett a sorompó.
The parking lot boom stayed down until we paid.
A parkoló sorompója lent maradt, amíg nem fizettünk.
A security guard stood next to the boom gate.
The train passed and the boom slowly rose.
Cars lined up in front of the lowered boom.
Learner examples
The boom at the train crossing went down.
A vasúti átjárónál leereszkedett a sorompó.
A car cannot pass until the boom goes up.
Egy autó nem tud áthaladni, amíg fel nem megy a sorompó.
The guard opened the boom for the truck.
They fixed the broken boom at the parking lot.
We stopped when we saw the boom in front of us.
Common mistake:
This sense is more common in some varieties of English (e.g., Australian English) than others; learners may not recognize it and think only of the sound meaning.
Meaning
barrier bar at crossings or gates
Collocations
railway boom
|level crossing boom
|boom gate
|raise the boom
|lower the boom
|security boom
Synonyms
barrier (General word for something that blocks movement; “boom” refers to the long horizontal bar type of barrier.)
Antonyms
open passage (Refers to movement without a barrier, opposite of a boom blocking the way.)
Themes
transport
|infrastructure
|safety
|transportation
|travel
Definition
A long pole that goes up and down to stop cars from passing.
A long bar that can be moved up or down to block or allow passage, used at level crossings, car parks, and security gates.
VERB
B2
8
Usage pattern:
[something] booms
Thunder boomed overhead as the storm moved in.
Fölöttünk dörgött az ég, ahogy közeledett a vihar.
Cannons boomed in the distance all night.
Egész éjjel ágyúk dörögtek a távolban.
His voice boomed across the hall without a microphone.
Music boomed from the speakers at the festival.
The waves boomed against the rocky cliffs.
Learner examples
The big drum boomed in the room.
A nagy dob dübörgött a szobában.
Loud music boomed from the car.
Hangos zene dübörgött az autóból.
Thunder boomed and the lights went out.
His deep voice boomed in the small office.
Guns boomed during the military show.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use “boom” for any loud sound, even high and sharp ones; it is best for deep, heavy sounds rather than, for example, a small glass breaking.
Meaning
to make a loud deep sound
Collocations
guns boomed
|music boomed
|thunder boomed
|voice boomed
|boom out
|booming loudly
Synonyms
rumble (Suggests a rolling, often softer or longer sound; “boom” is usually louder and more explosive.)
Antonyms
fade (Describes sound becoming weaker or disappearing, in contrast to loud booming.)
Themes
sound
|nature
|war
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a very loud and deep noise.
To produce a loud, deep, often continuous sound that can be heard over a distance.
VERB
C1
9
Usage pattern:
to boom [a product/event/person]
The studio boomed the film as the must-see hit of the summer.
A stúdió a nyár kihagyhatatlan sikerfilmjeként reklámozta a filmet.
The company boomed its new phone on social media.
A cég nagy erőkkel reklámozta az új telefonját a közösségi médiában.
Local politicians boomed the project as a cure for unemployment.
The event was heavily boomed on radio and television.
Critics said the product was boomed far more than it deserved.
Learner examples
They boomed the new game on TV.
Nagyon reklámozták az új játékot a tévében.
The company boomed its product with big ads.
A cég nagy hirdetésekkel reklámozta a termékét.
The city boomed the festival to bring more tourists.
The book was boomed as the best of the year.
His manager boomed him as a future star.
Common mistake:
This use is less common in modern everyday speech; learners might overuse it instead of more natural verbs like “promote,” “advertise,” or “hype.”
Meaning
to promote loudly or heavily
Collocations
boom a product
|boomed as the next big thing
|boomed in the press
|heavily boomed
|boomed by advertisers
|boomed by the media
Synonyms
hype (Informal; suggests strong, sometimes exaggerated promotion similar to “boom.”)
Antonyms
ignore (To pay no attention and give no promotion, the opposite of booming something.)
Themes
business
|media
|politics
|communication
Definition
To talk about something a lot and very positively so that more people will like or buy it.
To advertise or praise something very strongly in order to increase its popularity or success.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
10
olajfogó gát
C1
Usage pattern:
a boom around [oil/logs/debris]
Workers deployed an oil boom to limit the spill.
A munkások olajfogó gátat telepítettek, hogy korlátozzák a kiömlött olaj terjedését.
A floating boom surrounded the ship to catch any leaking fuel.
Úszó terelőgát vette körül a hajót, hogy felfogja az esetleg kiszivárgó üzemanyagot.
The log boom kept the timber from drifting downriver.
Crews installed a containment boom near the shore.
The boom redirected debris away from the intake pipes.
Learner examples
They put an oil boom on the water after the accident.
A baleset után olajfogó gátat helyeztek a vízre.
A boom stopped the trash from going into the lake.
Egy úszó terelőgát megakadályozta, hogy a szemét a tóba jusson.
The logs stayed together behind the boom.
Workers set a boom around the broken ship.
The boom helped protect the beach from the oil.
Common mistake:
Learners may think “oil boom” only means a time of economic growth from oil; in environmental news, “oil boom” can also mean a floating barrier used to catch spilled oil.
Meaning
floating barrier on water
Collocations
oil boom
|floating boom
|containment boom
|deploy a boom
|set up a boom
|log boom
Synonyms
containment barrier (A more descriptive technical phrase; less specific about being floating on water.)
Antonyms
open water (Water with no barrier to block movement of oil or debris.)
Themes
environment
|industry
|transport
|nature
|science
Definition
A long line of floating blocks or tubes on water that keeps oil, wood, or trash in one place.
A long floating barrier placed on the surface of water to contain or direct materials such as oil, debris, or logs.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boom
IPA
GB/bˈum/
US/bˈum/
Syllables & stress
boom (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (boom)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boom
- Plural: booms
Verb
- Base: boom
- 3rd Person Singular: booms
- Present Participle: booming
- Past: boomed
Word family
Forms
booms
noun
booming
verb
boomed
verb
Related words
boomer
noun B2
Advanced or less common
boomy
adjective
boomtown
noun
Expressions
baby boom
1/bˈeɪbi bˈum/
fixed phrase
period of unusually high births
A time when an unusually large number of babies are born.
Examples
- After the war there was a baby boom.
- The school was built to serve the children of the baby boom.
- Some countries are now seeing a new baby boom.
boom box
1/bˈum bˈɑks/
fixed phrase
informal
portable stereo with loud speakers
A portable music player with speakers that you can carry and play loudly, often using batteries.
Examples
- He carried a boom box on his shoulder in the park.
- They played music from a small boom box at the beach.
- Her old boom box still works after all these years.
boom town
1/bˈum tˈaʊn/
fixed phrase
town growing very quickly
A town that becomes big and busy very quickly because of new jobs or money.
Examples
- The small fishing village became a boom town after oil was found nearby.
- During the gold rush, many boom towns appeared in the region.
- The city is now a boom town thanks to the tech industry.
business is booming
1/bˈɪznɪs ˈɪz bˈumɪŋ/
fixed phrase
business is doing extremely well
Used to say that a business has many customers and is making a lot of money right now.
Examples
- Our online store is open 24/7 and business is booming.
- Thanks to the holiday season, business is booming.
- With all the tourists in town, business is booming for local restaurants.
economic boom
1/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk bˈum/
fixed phrase
time of strong economic growth
A time when a country’s economy grows very fast and many people and companies earn more money.
Examples
- The region experienced an economic boom after oil was discovered.
- The economic boom led to a rise in living standards.
- Many new jobs were created during the economic boom.
housing boom
1/hˈaʊzɪŋ bˈum/
fixed phrase
rapid growth in housing market
A time when many homes are sold or built and house prices go up quickly.
Examples
- The city is in the middle of a housing boom.
- During the housing boom, prices doubled in five years.
- The housing boom attracted many investors.
lower the boom (on someone)
1/lˈoʊɚ ðə bˈum ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
suddenly punish or act hard
To suddenly punish someone or act very strictly with them after a rule is broken.
Examples
- The coach finally lowered the boom on players who were always late.
- If you cheat again, the boss is going to lower the boom on you.
- Parents sometimes have to lower the boom when children keep breaking the rules.
boom and bust
1/bˈum ˈænd bˈʌst/
idiom
cycle of growth then decline
A repeated cycle where the economy grows very fast and then goes down again.
Examples
- The country has gone through several boom and bust cycles.
- The oil industry has always been a story of boom and bust.
- This industry is known for its boom and bust pattern.
- Politicians say they want to end the boom‑and‑bust cycle in housing.
- Better regulation could reduce the effects of boom and bust on small businesses.
- Farmers in the region are used to boom and bust years.
boom or bust
1/bˈum ˈɔɹ bˈʌst/
idiom
informal
either great success or failure
Used when something will either succeed in a very big way or fail completely, with little middle ground.
Examples
- For many start-ups, it’s boom or bust in the first few years.
- The project is a boom or bust gamble for the company.
- In that risky market, it’s often boom or bust.
boom or bust
2/bˈum ˈɔɹ bˈʌst/
idiom
Either great success or total failure
a situation where something will either do very, very well or fail very badly, with nothing in between
Examples
- For many startups it’s boom or bust within the first few years.
- Investing all your savings in one stock is a boom‑or‑bust strategy.
- It was boom or bust for the small mining town.
sonic boom
1/sˈɑnɪk bˈum/
fixed phrase
loud sound from supersonic travel
A very loud, explosive sound made when something, like a fast jet, travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.
Examples
- People heard a sonic boom as the fighter jet passed overhead.
- The windows rattled when the sonic boom hit the town.
- Residents reported a mysterious sonic boom late last night.
sonic boom
2/sˈɑnɪk bˈum/
fixed phrase
technical
loud sound from breaking sound barrier
A very loud sound that happens when something, like a fast jet, moves faster than sound.
Examples
- People reported hearing a sonic boom as the jet passed overhead.
- The windows rattled when the sonic boom hit the city.
- Sonic booms can cause minor damage to buildings.